SUNRISE FIREFIGHTERS TO GET PAY INCREASES

Firefighters will receive salary increases of 2.5 percent for the current and next fiscal year and be eligible for two merit raises, under a two-year contract approved Tuesday night by the City Council.

The agreement, which is retroactive to Oct. 1, concludes five months of negotiations between the city and the firefighters' union. The fiscal year begins each Oct. 1.

City officials are still attempting to reach settlements with unions representing rank-and-file police officers and general city employees.

Included in the firefighters' contract is a pay scale plan that creates minimum and maximum salaries for each job classification in the Fire Department. City officials say the pay scale will more accurately reflect the kinds of salaries being paid in nearby communities.

Under the terms of the agreement, firefighters will receive a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase retroactive to Oct. 1, and a second 2.5-percent increase this October.

Employees who receive favorable written evaluations would be eligible for additional 2.5-percent merit increases this October and in April of 1987, city officials agreed.

Personnel Director James Harris said Wednesday that the merit raises would not be given to an employee who has reached the maximum level of his salary range.

Harris said some employees received more than a 2.5-percent increase last October due to the introduction of the new pay scale.

Salaries will range from a minimum of $18,204 this fiscal year for beginning firefighters to a minimum of $25,721 for lieutenants.

According to Finance Director William MacDonald, the contract will cost the city $100,000 in the current fiscal year and $140,000 during next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. Most of the additional money for this year will come out of the city's surplus fund, MacDonald said.

The contract allows firefighters to retire at the age of 53, with early retirement at 47 if the employee has completed 25 years of service. Also, the contract calls for increases in disability benefits.

"I think it's a good contract for the city," Harris said Wednesday.

In other business, the City Council:

Rejected an ordinance that would have allowed residents to use their home address as a business address in order to receive mail there.

Council member Bill Colon's proposal was criticized by those who thought it would weaken an ordinance that prohibits residents from operating a business out of their home.

"If we allow a law such as this to be passed, we're going to open a Pandora's box," said Mayor Larry Hoffman.

Approved an ordinance that would exempt motion picture and television companies from occupational license fees.

Seeing the exemption as a way to attract film production in Sunrise, council members said production companies would be exempt as long as they did not stay more than 120 days in the city.